It had been Henry’s way of telling her about his past, or as much of it as he could at the time. He had opened up to her, and in his own way, he had invited her into his life. Jessie felt it immediately and as they drifted across the dance floor, she slowly lowered her head until her cheek rested on Henry’s chest. “Some things take time, Henry,” she said quietly. “It’s okay.”

The couple made one full turn around the dance floor when Jessie suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder. A bit startled, she quickly turned to see Joli Hansen standing behind her. “You two are getting’ way too serious out here for my liking,” Joli said with a joking gruffness in her voice. “I can see I’m just gonna have to break you up.” Taking Jessie’s arm, she moved her aside, and then, standing in front of Henry with her arms out as if already dancing with a partner, she said, “Mind if I cut in?”

Smiling big, Jessie curtsied and put her hands out toward Henry. “By all means,” she said. “But you need to have him back by midnight. He’s my ride home.”

“Well, we’ll just see about that!” Joli blurted. Jessie smiled and waved as little gray-haired woman, taking the lead, spun the hapless Henry out across the dance floor in a completely different rhythm than what the band was playing.

“Midnight!” Henry heard Jessie call over the sound of the music.

After two fast dances, Henry, out of breath and grinning, excused himself from the spry little woman and made his way back to Jessie, who had already poured him a glass of lemonade from a large punchbowl near the refreshment table in the back of the room. The remainder of the evening was filled with laughter and dancing and introductions to some of the townsfolk as well as some of the local ranchers. Henry and Jessie never returned to the seriousness of the conversation they had had during their first dance. There was no need. An understanding between them had developed that hadn’t been there when the evening began. They were moving in a different direction now, and while neither really knew what that direction was, one thing they did know was that they would be going down that path together—perhaps tentatively at times—but together.

The evening finally came to an end. Jessie gently held Henry’s arm as they walked up the steps of the porch and stopped at the door to Jessie’s house, the dim light above them casting soft shadows on the wooden floor below them. Jessie stopped at the door, turned to face Henry and gently took his hands in hers.

“I can’t remember when I’ve had a more enjoyable evening,” Jessie sighed. “Thank you, Henry. And thank you for talking with me tonight. It meant a lot to me.”

“Thank you, Jessie.” Henry felt like he wanted to say more, but nothing more came out. Jessie wanted to say more too, but like Henry, was suddenly at a loss for words.